HCC has signed a Letter of Agreement with PAHO aimed at strengthening the civil society contribution to the multisectoral response to NCDs in the Caribbean with a focus on childhood obesity prevention.
HCC has been an NGO in ‘Official Relations’ with PAHO since 2012 and recently renewed this relationship from 2016 through to 2020. The joint workplan developed as part of this collaboration identifies a number of specific ‘lines of collaboration’ including work in the area of Childhood Obesity Prevention/ Nutrition Advocacy. Through this LoA, the HCC will develop regional civil society-led advocacy campaigns in support of taxation of sugar sweetened beverages (SSBs) and unhealthy foods; and the banning on the sale and promotion of unhealthy foods and beverages in the region’s schools.
This work forms a major part of HCC’s Civil Society Action Plan for the Prevention of Childhood Obesity in the Caribbean which will be released next month.
On Caribbean Wellness Day 2016: The HCC calls for legislation to ban marketing of fast foods and junk foods in Caribbean schools.
A Message from the HCC President, Sir Trevor Hassell
On this Caribbean Wellness Day 2016 and in the lead up to the 30th Meeting of the Council for Human and Social Development (COHSOD) on September 23-24, 2016 and against the background of unacceptably high rates of overweight and obesity amongst our children; The Healthy Caribbean Coalition calls on Caribbean regional governments to urgently enact policies and legislation that provide Healthy Environments for Healthy Children.